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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting, 2nd Edition (The Complete Idiot's Guide) | 
 enlarge | Author: Joel Hirschhorn
Publisher: Alpha
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $8.84
You Save: $10.11 (53%)
New (29) Used (15) from $8.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 338057
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 7.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 1592572111
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.4213
EAN: 9781592572113
ASIN: 1592572111
Publication Date: May 4, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: New, unread, unsed and in perfect conditions with no missing or damaged pages, may have a remainder mark.Varying degrees of shelf wear. Great Customer Service! No hassle returns!
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Product Description
The most thorough guide to songwriting for the amateur musician. Written by an Oscar-winning and Grammy and Tony award nominated author, this is the most comprehensive book for today's amateur musician who is interested in creating and writing his or her own songs. It reveals everything the reader needs to know, including coming up with ideas, rhyming schemes, hooks, melodies, and lyrics; selling songs; working in the industry; and even coming up with titles.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Thumbs up. May 13, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Joel Hirshhorn's book is brief but concise and to the point. It covers virtually every concept in songwriting along with some sound production advice. There are some areas that it does not cover in regards to alternate or extended tunings and more experimental musical styles, however, this is not really in the scope of the book. It is meant to be easily readable, which it is, and to cover the most important areas in traditional songwriting styles, which it does. Having read many other books on this topic I would like to see other areas added, such as the ones previously mentioned, along with some futher details on various voicings, and timbre/ sonic design. Overall, I give it a 4 out of five, as it covers everything it sets out to very well, for begginers to advanced readers it makes an important reference book or light reading material for the songwriters and composers library.
 not impressed May 30, 2006
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book does not get too deep. For example, the author lists 100 chord progressions used in popular songs. However, the chord progressions are listed independently, without the songs. Also, the progressions are given in all different keys, without roman numerals or Nashville Numbers to show the relationships between chords.
You could probably find some nuggets in this book to give you ideas, but it would not be worth your time. The book is written from the narrow perspective of a person who writes songs for others commercially. Throughout this book, the author encourages you to examine the hits songs on the charts now. This would be fine, execept for the fact that most hits songs are commercially supported [...] that will not stand the test of time.
He also mentions throughout the book that he co-wrote the grammy-nominated song, "The morning After". Well, I gave it a listen. I nearly threw myself of my second story balcony- I'm lucky I thouht about the life I have ahead of me, and was able to see beyond the flood of cliches. Check out the first 6 chapters of "How Music Really Works" free oline.
 Songwriting for Everyone March 8, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Many of us have dreamt about writing a hit song, right? How many actually have? Yip, I too, have tried my hand at penning song lyrics but found out that there's much more to it than writing a few rhyming lines. Two-time Oscar winner ("The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno) Joel Hirschhorn, gives us the necessary tools to write a song correctly. He emphasizes the need to think visually, to find ideas, become a storyteller, and "how to analyze hit songs and song titles to see what works and why". One's emotions are a huge well of inspiration if we learn to write about them. This book is divided into five parts and covers all aspects from collecting song titles to hooks and from country to the stage and movie songs. He also covers working as a collaborator and about royalties and payment and copyright. Throughout this book you'll find references to some great songwriter or other as well as hints and tips, which I found very interesting. There's a comprehensive glossary and appendix which is extremely helpful, with names and addresses of record companies, publishers, and competitions. The best news is that you don't have to be musically inclined to write songs. It helps but is not a requirement!
 I'm an idiot for buying this... March 24, 2005
26 out of 31 found this review helpful
I have played guitar for a few years and thought that writing/singing songs would be fun. So I popped into the bookstore and got this. I thought it would be about songwriting. It's mostly not. Much padding, like long lists of titles, that help get the authors point across. Eg: "Use colors in your titles" Pink Cadillac, Red Red Wine, Blue Monday etc etc etc. In columns to fill space.
In short, most of the book is a pep talk, about how you, the reader, "have what it takes", if you change your outlook on life. Watch movies, read books etc all while trying to see the songwriting angle. This is sad, I'd think.
All i wanted was the craft side of it. The "structural rules", verse chorus verse, nuts and bolts. And some analysis of great songs. None here. Just boring namedropping, and "I'm a successful songwriter, who keeps an eye on other songs". He quotes some truely awful songs/artists, which is also off putting.
Avoid.
I dont want to write a commercial mega-smash for radio, sung by a plastic pop star. I want to write campfire ditties. This book discusses some obvious little "cheats" (which is how they feel), to get your songs to appeal to the masses.
To be honest, anyone who truely has the right stuff to be a mega-writer, probably won't need a book. (let alone one with the label IDIOT on the cover)
Rubbish
comes packed with hints and helpful insights August 7, 2004
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
So you know how to come up with a song, and you're no idiot - but you're confused by the challenges of rhyming, steady logical beats, and all the elements which translate lyric to music. It's time for the updated second edition of Joel Hirschhorn's Idiot's Guide To Songwriting: a 'bible' to developing lyrics and melodies which go together. From analyzing the elements of a song to understanding dynamic lyric elements and writing for specific musical genres, this comes packed with hints and helpful insights.
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